Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Second Stain
WhenourillustriousvisitorshaddepartedHolmeslithispipeinsilenceandsatforsometimelostinthedeepestthought.IhadopenedthemorningpaperandwasimmersedinasensationalcrimewhichhadoccurredinLondonthenightbefore,whenmyfriendgaveanexclamation,sprangtohisfeet,andlaidhispipedownuponthemantelpiece.
“Yes,”saidhe,“thereisnobetterwayofapproachingit.Thesituationisdesperate,butnothopeless.Evennow,ifwecouldbesurewhichofthemhastakenit,itisjustpossiblethatithasnotyetpassedoutofhishands.Afterall,itisaquestionofmoneywiththesefellows,andIhavetheBritishtreasurybehindme.Ifit’sonthemarketI’llbuyit—ifitmeansanotherpennyontheincome-tax.Itisconceivablethatthefellowmightholditbacktoseewhatbidscomefromthissidebeforehetrieshisluckontheother.Thereareonlythosethreecapableofplayingsoboldagame—thereareOberstein,LaRothiere,andEduardoLucas.Iwillseeeachofthem.”
Iglancedatmymorningpaper.
“IsthatEduardoLucasofGodolphinStreet?”
“Yes.”
“Youwillnotseehim.”
“Whynot?”
“Hewasmurderedinhishouselastnight.”
MyfriendhassooftenastonishedmeinthecourseofouradventuresthatitwaswithasenseofexultationthatIrealizedhowcompletelyIhadastonishedhim.Hestaredinamazement,andthensnatchedthepaperfrommyhands.
